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Saturday, October 06, 2012

I was so happy that Natalia asked me to be a part of her blog book tour! (all photos courtesy C&T publishing)

If you have followed her blog at all then you know that she does some amazing work. Between the quilt designs (many with amazing applique) and the actual quilting, she is one talented mama!

Natalia has written her first book for the beginner home machine quilter!

As Natalia said in her kick off post, quilting does seem to be a family affair! I learned to sew and quilt from my mother. We didn't have formal lessons, I just learned as we worked on projects and as questions arose. I love that at the beginning of the book she lays out simple instruction with photos of the different aspects of quilting: the type of feet you might need, thread selection, basics of basting, etc. I love having all of that information so handy in one place! I'm always learning something new!

Lately my littleslouwho are my reason for quilting.

I've made and am working on many quilts for them and me and the mrlouwho. I wish I had Natalia's book when I free motion quilted my first quilt! It's a good thing no one inspects each little stitch!!

The book has great step-by-step photo instructions to achieve many basic quilted patterns!

There is also valuable information on achieving something more than just an all-over pattern of stipples or loop-de-loops. Which as a beginner is mostly what I do these days!

I am finding that I really love doing the actual quilting part, but I need more practice. I can't wait to dive a little deeper into the book and try out some of the techniques! I have some more placemats to make, they are the perfect size on which to practice! I'll show you when I finish them.

Natalia, thanks for including me! There will be a giveaway on each post during the tour and a grand prize on her blog at the end of the tour!! All winners will be announced 18 March!

Would you like to win a copy of Natalia's book? Just leave me a comment here telling me who or what inspired you to start a current project you are working on!

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crafty mcCrafters commented:

My current project is an Art Journal that I'm sketching and coloring in with whatever strikes me. I have statements to go along with each picture and I want to incorporate it into a quilt. My inspiration for this project came from Jane LaFazio whose blog I love.

I just got a huge box of patterns from my grandmother. I decided to make a skirt from said box of patterns. When I opened the pattern, I knew immediately that it was one she had used because it smelled of her perfume! I swore she was standing next to me:)

I am making a simple nine patch with some lovely fabrics inspired by my non-stitchy sister. She chose a few of the fabrics and I've added to them. I think perhaps because she doesn't sew, she has a very fresh eye for colour and pattern. It's a really fun project!

I'm currently working on ... oh, about different things, including the "bird quilt", which is the result of the free form robin I participated in this year. The journey was a great opportunity, and really gave me the chance to stretch myself creatively. Not to mention, I have a quilt that the hands of 8 different helped to make. I need to finish borders, and then do the baste/quilt/bind steps. Every month was a different inspiration based on the quilt in my hands, but my daughters were the inspiration for MY starter piece. This is for them.

I'd love this book! Recently I've been inspired by my mom and her leader/ender projects to start my own leader/ender projects from my scraps. My project will become a baby quilt for my next door neighbor who is having a baby girl after two boys!

I have many projects started but when I start a new one I like to see the pattern, and if I learn something new.I love QALs because thereare always something new to learn.If you want you can go through my blog and take a lookmoramargaritaster.blogspot.com

Granny Squares. Yes, I know everyone is doing them and I followed along, lemming like, with the crowd after seeing them all over blogland. These blocks are addicting and I love making them. I bought a fq bundle of fabric that really was a mistake. The fabric just wasn't me, so I chopped the entire thing up into 2.5 inch squares and I've been making grannies! And now that my fq bundle has been chopped small enough I'm just loving it! And when I finish I'll have a beautiful quilt to give as a gift.

My daughter went on a trek 3 years ago now and I had the idea for a memory quilt--and I'd never pieced or quilted before. It's all put together now; I'm just getting up the courage to actually quilt the designs I've outlined ...

My current project is just a small pencil case for my 11 yr old daughter to gift to her friend next week; we just chose the fabrics, trims and zipper together. She is going to have a go at sewing some parts too!

I'm cutting Fall fabrics for a new project. A newly released book inspired me! It focuses on Fat Quarters, but I wanted to use Fall Fabrics so bought my own yardage to make the quilt as I couldn't find the right colors in fat quarters.

Not quilty, but Halloweenie! :). My current project is a trench coat for my middle guy's costume. He's very into detectives and spies, so we're doing an updated Sherlock. The deerstalker hat is next! This books looks like just what I need to get going on FMQ!

Currently inspired by my Daughter, that lives in NC! We are workin' on 3rd project "together" now. We pick a pattern, then both make it up...& when we get to visit each other..we Exchange what we have made! So we each get a special Hug from each other! Has been sooo fun... I miss her bein' so far away...and this is a way for us to feel close to one another! SHE is my Inspiration...for this, and sooo much more!

That book looks amazing! I am working on a yoyo quilt right now. Before I ever quilted or knew anyone who quilted I bought raffle tickets for a gorgeous yoyo quilt from the late 1800's. It has always been on my mind... since I didn't win it! So, now I can make one of my own. I could really use help with machine quilting... the last frontier:)

I am working on 2 Twister quilts in red.white & blue. I belong to a group that makes quilts for wounded soldiers. After quilting for 32 years it was time to quilt for those in need. Love all the inspiration from the modern quilters.

My sister inspired my current project. She loves sunflowers and I have this gorgeous fabric with giant sunflowers on it. I cut out a section that looks like a big sunflower painting and now I'm piecing scrappy blocks to go around it. So far I'm loving the way it looks. I think I know what my sister is getting for Christmas!

I'm currently working on some infinity scarves so that I don't freeze this winter - so many people had them last winter, I figured it was time to catch up as many people started posting about them again!

My current project is a Turning Twenty pattern using batiks selected by my oldest daughter. This will be a queen size quilt for her and her husband. I will be quilting it on my home machine and would love to have this book as a reference. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.

My current project is a table runner inspired by Pat Sloans Pick a Pear design that I am calling pear-a-licious! I'm taking the base pattern and wonkifying it. I would love to learn, with guidance, more actual quilting. I do just the basic quilting so far.

My current project is an applique quilt from a back issue of Fons and Porter magazine called Hannah's Flowers. While I am in TX during the winter and early spring months, I sit with an elderly lady who has Alzheimers a few days a week so her husband can go out with the boys, bowling, as well as any other time he needs to be away from the house. I started this quilt to work on while we shared time together and so she'd have something sweet to throw over her lap. It should be ready for Christmas!! ~karen

My current project is a full size quilt. I am using Eleanor Burns stripping method for "Courthouse Steps"...I am making it as a thank you gift for a dear friend:)Would love this book for ideas for the quilting!

My current projects are inspired by each person they are for! A quilt for my step son who is all about football (field goal quilt) and a Nightshade Quilt for a friend that is inspired by the fabric! Thanks for the chance to win!

My little girl's love of tea parties inspired me to make some Dresden Fairy placemats for her. I'm at the hand quilting stage and I'm sure that they have been taken out of the sewing room for trial runs already.

Today, I found out that I am a Great Aunt once again with joy and will start his quilt. I had the fabric, but did not know where to go with it. Now that I have seen a photo of him, a sweet, but cuddley quilt it is. Judith, Texas

My current project is a quilt for a friend who's going through cancer treatment. I just finished a quilt that was raffled off at a benefit for him and am making his quilt out of the same fabrics. I'm a cancer survivor, so this is very close to my heart. It'll be a surprise for him :) I would love to win this book! Free motion quilting scares me but I want to learn how because it's so awesome!!

My current project is a baby quilt to place under the Christmas tree at church, for donation to young moms with babies, struggling to "make it work"... I'm making it a scrap challenge for myself, too, as this will be only the second scrap quilt I've done... I really like it... now, as for quilting, I had planned straight stitches, but, perhaps inspired by some of the pictures over the next couple days I'll take a risk... thanks!

My great grandson inspired my latest project. I took a block from Monster Patch by Kids Quilts and made it into a wallhanging because it reminded me of my great grandson when I go to see him, arms spread wide in greeting and saying Hi! Hi! Hi! I'd love to see Natalia's new book!

I am currently making a quilt that is the Irish Flag. My aunt and uncle go above and beyond for my kids and I want to give them something really lovely this Christmas. I love to quilt and am anxious to get my hands on this book!

I love Natalie's quilting and have followed her blog for two years so I am really interested in her book because I can't seem to master machine quilting. I have a number of projects under way right now one is a baby quilt for a grand nephew so I am busy because Christmas is coming.

My current projects (tablerunners and a quilt) are inspired by 7 year old son who is now with Jesus. :)I'm sewing to raise money for a family in need in Ethan's memory. I can't wait to get a copy of this books!!! Natalia is so sweet, and even emails people (me) back personally, answering questions. :) Thank you for the really nice and thorough review!

My current project is a fall leaf quilt inspired by my husband and a blog hop. He's always wanted something that matches our apartment which is in all fall/Tuscan colors. I've tried a few all over FMQ designs, but haven't tried to break out, so winning this book would be great. Even if I don't win I'll probably check it out. :) Thanks for the chance!

This might sound lame, but my most current project is inspired by Heather Ross. Which sounds so cliche, because really she inspires so many, but her recent book and release of so many of her designs has really made me less scared to use some of my HR prints, so therefore... I'm actually starting a HR fairy tale princess quilt! Phew. I can stop hoarding that now :)

Actually the current project was inspired by a pattern in an older McCalls Quilting magazine. I love house quilts, and this one was made using only my stash. Yay! Now on to the quilting. BTW, are you not doing Sew and Tell anymore?? Missed you yesterday.

I have so so many projects right now that I am working on. What a multi-tasker I am but really I think it is a crazy person all over the place, :). The biggest project that I am working on is a quilt for my aunt. I saw a picture on interest with floating churn dashes. I thought it would be perfect for the quilt for her. It is just ready to get basted so in a matter of a few days I should be free-motion quilting it and I am super impressed with the book because I am a beginner and I would love to get better and be more creative with my free-motion quilting. Thanks for the giveaway :)

My most current project is inspired from a post Bonnie Hunter did with the Word Play Book. I am collecting shirts to use in the next mystery Bonnie will have through the holiday season. I'd love to have Natalia's BOOK! Quilting is my favorite part, it means it is almost DONE!

I was listening to a podcast and she talked about completing one UFO a month next year. I decided to take that idea and run with it now. I am currently working through my boxes of UFOs. All of which will need to be quilted. By me. So this book would be a HUGE help!

My current project is a BOM quilt that I am FMQ on my home machine. It is taking me a LOT longer to finish than I had anticipated, but I am doing it myself. And my stitch tension and length is getting smoother all the time. Thanks for the opportunity on the drawbonnielarson58@gmail.com

I'm working on journal covers to donate to a benefit auction for a friend's husband who has brain cancer. It is inoperable, he is only 33, and they have a 3 year old. Very sad story and I'm happy to do anything to help them.

One of my (many) current projects is "The Shirt Quilt" I'm making out of men's dress shirts. A lot of the style-inspiration for it came from a foundation-pieced string quilt top that I quilted for a friend. My friend's mother made her quilt top 40 years ago ... and I got to quilt it this summer. Beautiful quilt, and great inspiration!

Today I gave my current project to it's new owner. My friend's daughter has Lupus and I decided to make her an encouragement quilt. At last year's lupus walk I had a large blank block and had all our team members sign it. It took me way to long to complete it, but I think giving it to her at this year's walk was awesome.

I was inspired to make a little something with a fat quarter bundle a friend gave me last Christmas. So I made my first Swoon block yesterday which I intend to bind and give to my friend this Christmas as a table mat.

I recently attended a Fiber-Adventures retreat taught by talented artists, Louise Schotz and Jamie Kalvestran. They are my inspiration! I never believed I could do free motion quilting, but the results were amazing! We also worked on a thread painting project that brought out my inner artist!!!

I have a quilt that I started at least 8-9 yrs. ago. It won't take too much to finish it and I'd love to do my own quilting, so if I win this book it would be great. If I don't win, I will definitely have to purchase this book!

My current project is a postage stamp quilt that I'm making for my Mum for Christmas, I was inspired to use the pattern from Elizabeth Hartmans' first book & also by the Echo fabric line by Lotta Jansdotter that I'm using, they seemed to be perfect together. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of this great book.

Today's inspiration is from a pretty harlequin fabric that I'm stitching into a ruffled tunic. I'd love to win this book! I have 2 quilt tops I have completed, yet I'm afraid to finish them because I don't want them 'ruined' when I attempt to quilt them.

I just made an improv mini, and was inspired by a conversation with my best friend, in which I expressed a desire to set aside some time and give it a try. When I got home after that talk, I thought, "Why not? What is stopping me?".

My family inspires me. I want to do more to show them that I can create and start a business one day when I learn the final steps in quilting. So, this book would be great to help me get there as I would learn to finish a few tops that I have started.

My current project is a fish quilt that I made up myself after seeing a photo of a woman with a lap robe that had fish on it. My brother is so hard to buy for but he is an avid fly fisherman, so I decided to piece a throw for him. The top turned out well, rustic and manly, but now I have to quilt it, so I need some free motion help! :)

Making some awesome jewelry rolls for Christmas gifts for some dear friends. The pattern is not hard but involved so I only make them for very special people- you all know what I mean. BTW, I do believe I would LOVE Natalia's book!

I have always sewed clothing and just in the last year I have taken up quilting. I am on my fourth quilt, but I have yet to quilt it myself for I am paranoid! Like how in the world do I put this under my little machine! This book will inspire me to do the quilting myself!

Hi...I just found the blog hop. I am new to fmq. I have been working on UFO's that the tops were constructed over 8 years ago. Now it is time to quilt them. I am too cheap to pay for them to be quilted. lol thanks so much for a chance to win! Happy Quilting

I have wanted to learn to quilt since I received my quilt from my grandmother, oh so many years ago. I knew that someday I wanted to create such things. But sewing wasn't a big thing in our house. A little mending went on but not much else. Zip forward a bunch of decades and my oldest daughter learned to quilt from her grandmother [my MIL] and won a prize for her first quilt. Another decade or so and I finally found my window of opportunity when I came across the CRAFTSY BOTM with Amy Gibson. So I am learning quilting while sharing it with a few of my children at the same time. Having an incredible time at it and being wowwed by all the creative women that can be accessed through the internet now.

I am currently working on a quilt for a little boy whose brother passed away from cancer a couple months ago. It is "The Neighborhood" fabric which has kitties, doggies, tic-tac-toe, hopscotch...all the things they loved to do together!this book looks wonderful! I need free-motion help!!

I just decided to make a quilt for my dad for Christmas using his parents clothes, his dad passed away this last summer and I am hoping that I can surprise him for Christmas! (I really need to get my act together!)

Amylouwho -- Love your blog posts! I was inspired to make my recent Kim Diehl "Penny Garland" by my friend Debbie. She has many many sweet little wool projects in Kim's books and they are always beautiful!

my current sewing project: mango salsa stars that i cut some time ago and kitted. love the tonga treat that it was and the free pattern featuring it. thanx for the chance to win a copy of this book; i need all the help i can get for free motion quilting.

Well, my CURRENT project is participation in SewCalGal's 2012 Free Motion Quilting Challenge, a commitment to set aside time at least once per month just to practice a new quilting technique. I was mostly inspired to do this by blogger Wendy Sheppard over at Ivory Springs, because her work is so beautiful and she is so encouraging to beginners. And the next non-practice project on my horizon is a Storm at Sea quilt inspired by The Quiltmaker's Gift (children's story book) AND by a friend of mine who has had a rough year and posted a fortune cookie on her facebook page that said "You Can't Stop the Waves, but You Can Learn to Surf." I think this book sounds perfect for where I am in my quilting journey right now, so if I don't win a copy, I'll definitely put it on my wish list for this holiday season!

My mother inspired me to begin my current project. I wanted to make a civil war-ish quilt, and she looked for a pattern and suggested that I make a quilt from the cover of an old issue of Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting. She had written little notes on the magazine cover. So, I'm enlarging the lap quilt pattern to make a bed-sized quilt!

My current project is the vintage modern quilt along. I was inspired by a blog and I'm moving along now. Unfortunately, I can't think of how I shoul quilt it! I look forward to adding this title to my library!

I am currently working on a quilt for my dad for Christmas. He will be 80 tomorrow! As far back as I can remember my dad's hug has always been warm and comforting. Now that he is getting older and having some health issues his body doesn't stay as "warm" as it used to. This quilt is my way of giving him a warm, comforting hug whenever he needs it!lindapawlak@verizon.net

Among my projects in progress is a quilt for my dear son. It is a lodgey looking quilt for him to use on the bed in his camper. His courage in life is an inspiration to me. And my beloved DIL whom we lost, all my work is in her memory, to the glory of God.

One of my 5 current projects in various stages is Lori Holt's row-a-long QAL and I was inspired by visits to Lori's blog. I'm a beginner free motion quilter and would love to be entered in the giveaway.

Wow look at all these comments! I'm working on a Christmas table runner using a small piece of Santa fabric from Victoria at Bumblebeans.. She offered to send out two Santas & I made a block for her quilt with one. Her block will be mailed after my quilt group meeting on Wednesday. I hope I'll get my table runner top done too. This looks like an inspiring book.

I'm currently taking an 11 month class at my LQS to complete the queen size Farmer's Wife quilt. I was totally inspired by my quilty friends who enjoy each and every class with me. I'm using all my DS fabrics, and it's so much fun!

Katy Jones (@imagingermonkey) hosted a great QAL for a postage stamp-style quilt and I thought it was the perfect way to utilize my growing scrap collection. I have FMQ'ed one quilt and would love to win a copy of this book! Thanks for the chance!

I saw a scrapbook map online and decided to make it fabric style. I just bought a free motion quilting attachment, and I'm not sure I know what I'm doing! I'm trying to trace the states! This book info comes at a great time!

I am currently working on a Dresden Star quilt. I made the quilt top at my LQS, but I used aged muslin for the setting squares and borders, giving me a lot of wide open spaces for quilting. Still on the frame but I am loving it and it will stay in my studio. Would love to win Natalie's book to see all the "tricks" of the trade.

Who or what is inspiring me to quilt...well, I just recently got back into quilting after many years(well, okay not so very many, I'm only 30 after all :-D)because my work was/is/continues to be incredibly stressful. There is very little structure/order/balance to my days and quilting provided that. I found calm and balance in piecing together squares, and rectangles (I avoided triangles early on, because points just sounded stressful and I didn't need any more of that). Playing with color and having something wonderful to show for it all is exactly what I need in my life right now. Thank you for the giveaway!

My current project is making granny squares using the strip method for a swap. I am inspired by blogs and flickr. So much creativity out there and people are so willing to share! Thanks for the chance to win!

Right now I am working on a quilt that I am making for a little boy I "met" on FB who has a terminal disease. There is a rather new surgery that he will be getting near Christmas that will hopefully save his life and improve his quality of life. I am making them a Christmas quilt to auction off or raffle for money to help pay for the surgery. His name is Christopher https://www.facebook.com/ChristophersMiracleJourney?fref=ts .

I am working on a quilt for the Quilts for Kids Organization that donates quilts to children with cancer. I am new to machine quilting and this is my first attempt at machine quilting so I could really use a guide!!!

The project I am working on (just have the binding left to do) was featured in the show Sarah's Summer House on HGTV and then on the cover of Country Living magazine. It is a simple Red and white quilte done with one block...the Ohio star. I just replicated it from the picture. It will be our Fall/Winter bed quilt. Thanks for the chance to win! srussett514@yahoo.com

I have a sister who loves to go all out to decorate for Christmas so I'm working on a new wall hanging for her! She inspires me to look for something fresh and new. I too am a beginner at FMQ and this books seems perfect.

I couldn't say whatever made me take my first class but I love looking at pictures and putting blocks together. I love Tula Pink and Sweetwater so much. I actually have two quilt tops I'd love to FMQ and tried a bit of it on some postcards I made this year. The book looks wonderful.

My current project is a lap quilt for my colleague at work. She's 60 in a few months and she's been great to me this last months since I started working at this job so I want to give her a nice present for her birthday. She's great and she deserves it.Terrific giveaway, thanks!

I currently have 2 projects in the works, 1) a buildings blocks twin size quilt for my youngest daughter and I just finished quilting it last night (YAY! cue Kermit the Frog visual) so all it needs now is squaring up and binding. 2) I have a block within blocks quilt top that I've quilted and had to pull apart and re-back to quilt again :D that one is for the charity pile at our Guild. What inspired that particular top were some 1930's reproduction charm squares as well as beautiful heavy cotton vintage fabric from the late 60's early 70's, I am a huge lover of vintage fabric.

I'd love to win a book. My current project is a "banner" quilt that will be used at a modern meet up soon. I'm stressing over the quilting because lots of people will see it....but I hope it comes out good.

That is such a lovely book!! I would recommend it to any machine quilter. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.I was inspired to make the quilt that I am working on by people asking me to host another quilt along.

My Mother left to me numerous unfinished quilts. I knew there was no way I could hand quilt all of them in my life time. So FMQ seems just what I need. I have purchased several of the FMQ books and I am doing the FMQ Challenge by SewCal Gal. Thanks Natalia for this wonderful book. My youngest daughter is expecting her first baby in May and my granddaughter is expecting her second child, a son, any time now. So baby quilts are my inspiration. Sally@BabyStepsQuilting.com

Just found your wonderful blog....I am currently working on a tablerunner that turned into a wallhanging...lol all in fall colors and now the dilemma is how to quilt it. But I am going to follow along to see if I can get some pointers...thank you

I was inspired by a piece of oriental fabric by Kona Bay called Honshu. I am doing a color study of colors pulled from the fabric, two bargellos. Same fabric, same strip set, but two different bargello patterns.

Currently working on a Mystery Block of the Month Quilt and I'm not sure one person inspired that. I wanted to do a quilt using Vintage Modern and I wanted to do something different that what I usually do, so I thought that would be a good way to accomplish both. Thanks for the giveaway!

My granddaughter and moda's mini charm packs. She has a ragged 15 inch doll that she's dragging around and thought i would make it a blanket. Right now she's using a bunting i made for her brother when he was born. I had made it big enough to get through the winter months and you can't even see the doll in it, lol.

Hmm, I think almost all my current goings ons & and recent finishes have been inspired by projects done by my favorite bloggers. I AM trying to do more creative things, and paper pieced some hexagons I might make an original purse out of if I can resist the urge to turn it into a 2 year long quilt project!

My grandmother taught me to quilt as part of her baby-sitting duties. I always think of her when I start a new project and remember the fun times we had together. I am working on mug rugs for the shut-ins in my Church and each one has been a challenge. My piecing skills could sure use some improvement, but Granny always said, practice makes perfect.

A dear, dear friend of mine is an attorney and has fibermyalgea. When she can't go on anymore but still has so much to do she can't go home, she sleeps on the floor (like a corpse - LOL) in her office. She loves red, white and blue, so I am making her a throw quilt that she can throw on the floor before sawing zzzzzz. I am using a Collection for a Cause - Warmth jelly roll. And I am learning to quilt on my home machine so Natalia's book would be a wonderful addition!! Thank you for this opportunity, Amy!!

Currently I'm working on a fall table runner for our dining room table. I used a Gobble Gobble turnover that I chanced to find and am really liking how it is turning out. My only inspiration for this particularly project was a determination to have something for our dining room table when my sister and family comes at Thanksgiving time. I love the warmth of fall colors and have made several toppers for other people's tables and felt it was time for our own table to have some fall color and warmth. Can hardly wait to get the binding done.